Trump warns Iran against nuclear restart, hints at force action

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran must not resume its nuclear program, warning that any renewed effort could trigger military action. Speaking during an interview with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said previous US strikes had halted Iran’s nuclear trajectory and insisted Washington would ensure Tehran does not restart nuclear activities, a development with direct implications for regional security, including areas close to Türkiye.

Trump reiterates nuclear red line

Describing earlier military action, Trump said, “It’s a rough place. It’s a place that we hit very hard… ending the nuclear program.” He claimed Iran would have obtained a nuclear weapon shortly after the strike had it not occurred, adding that US B-2 bombers were used. “They can’t do the nuclear. The one thing I have been strong on, they can’t do the nuclear,” he said.

Monitoring Iran’s next moves

Trump said the US would assess Iran’s current position and intentions regarding nuclear development. He stressed that Washington is focused on intelligence and verification, signalling that any indication of renewed nuclear activity would be met with a firm response. The comments reflect ongoing US pressure on Iran at a time of heightened uncertainty across the Middle East.

Claims over protests and executions

The US president also claimed Iran had halted executions of protesters following his public warnings last week. “They were gonna hang 837 people on Thursday. I told them, ‘You can’t do that,’” Trump said. Protests erupted in Iran on Dec. 28 amid severe economic strain, including currency depreciation and rising inflation. Iranian officials have accused the US and Israel of backing what they describe as armed groups behind unrest.

Call to avoid further escalation

Despite his warnings, Trump said he hoped additional military action would not be necessary. “We hope there’s not going to be further action,” he said, framing the US position as one of deterrence rather than escalation. The outcome of this standoff will be closely watched by regional actors, including Türkiye, given the broader impact on Middle East stability.